Container lid having multiple utilities

ABSTRACT

The prevention from hardening upon storage of paste-like material by use of a lid having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plastic bag attached to the inlet port. By expelling the air in contact with the paste-like material, the material can be prevented from hardening during storage. A similar lid is used in a pre-cleaning device situated between a dust-producing tool and a wet/dry vacuum. Dust-laden air enters the device through an inlet port and is discharged over a water filter. The pre-cleaned air is vacuumed to a wet/dry vacuum. The pre-cleaning process lengthens the useful life of the wet/dry vacuum. A hand-held sander is disclosed which provides for rapid change of sandpaper. The sander has a hollow upper handle component and a lower surface component which are held together with a latch. Depressing of a quick-release button allows separation of the two parts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the filing date of applicant's provisionalapplication, Ser. No. 60/999,779, having an effective filing date ofJul. 1, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(Not applicable)

REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGAPPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

(Not applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to container lids which have multipleutilities and to processes for using these lids. One disclosed utilityis keeping paste-like and liquid compositions from becoming hard duringstorage. Another disclosed utility is pre-cleaning air from anindustrial tool prior to entrance into a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Thisinvention is also directed to a hand-held sander which has a fast andsimple release of the sandpaper which may be used in combination withthe lid.

2) Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, a user obtained a can of paste-like or liquid materialsuch as joint compound, glazier's putty, or paint, removed the lid, useda portion of the material, reapplied the lid, and stored the can untilthe next use. Over a period of time the material reacted with air in thecan and the reaction caused the material to harden. One partial solutionwas to place a wet cloth into the can of paste-like material to slowdown the hardening process. With or without the use of this partialsolution, the material at least partially dried out. The user had todiscard the partially used can or remove as much of the dried materialas possible and attempt to mix the material to get a smooth consistency.Any remaining dry lumps mixed into the material creating an inconsistenttexture which created an annoyance to the user when the material wasapplied to a surface. Dried material created gouges or streaks in theapplied material and the dried lumps had to be removed by hand. It iseasy to see that the prior art containers and methods used to storepaste-like materials and liquids caused a waste of material and time.

A more recent solution to this problem is disclosed in PublishedApplication US 2003/0019539. In this document, a paint can contains alid having an opening. An inflatable bladder can be inserted between thesurface of the paint and the lid, the bladder may be pressurized so asto substantially fill the space between the paint and the lid, a tubeconnecting the bladder with the exterior of the can may be closed with avalve, and air trapped between the can and the expanded bladder may bereleased by means of pressure valve. This innovation substantiallydecreases the amount of air coming in contact with the paint anddecreases the formation of a crust due to contact of paint with air.However, the air remaining within the can between the paint and the lidis under a pressure at least as high as ambient pressure and the“amount” of air (P×V) may be appreciable and may not entirely preventthe formation of the crust and its associated problems.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,406 issued Jul. 24, 2007 to Yarbrough et aldiscloses a device for cleaning dust from air which comes from anindustrial operation, such as cutting concrete with a saw. Over time,the filter media of this device and conventional wet/dry vacuum cleanersbecomes clogged, the airflow slows, and the dust collection becomes lessefficient.

Hand-held sanders are known in the art. Changing the sandpaper onconventional sanders can be cumbersome and time consuming. The user mustuse a screw driver or clip down a fastener that attaches from the topside of either end of the sanding device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of this invention is directed to lids for cans ofpaste-like and liquid compositions wherein the lids contain air inletand outlet ports. An airtight flexible bag is attached to an inlet port.In one alternative, with the lid in place vacuum is applied to theoutlet port, resulting in air passing out of the space between the bagand the material in the container. As a result, ambient air passes intothe bag and the bag assumes the contour of the paste-like material andpresses against the material. Since the pressure of the air between thelid and the material is below ambient pressure, only a very limited“amount” (P×V) of air is in contact with the paste-like or liquidmaterial and the material retains its desired consistency. The presentinvention uses a can lid of predetermined size to fit over containers ofpaste-like or liquid material. Conventional examples are one-gallon andfive-gallon containers.

In another alternative, a flexible air-tight bag is fitted into an inletport and secured in place. With the use of a built-in, hand-operated airpump, air in container is forced out and ambient air is drawn into thebag. The air expands the bag, forcing the bag to assume the contour ofthe paste-like material, thus keeping air from contacting the paste-likematerial and the original consistency of the material is maintained.With repeated pumping, the pressure of the air within the container maymade to be lower than ambient pressure so that the “amount” (P×V) of airavailable to react with the material is less than that which would beavailable had the bladder been filled using high pressure.

The second embodiment of the present invention discloses a device forpre-cleaning air to be filtered by any conventional wet/dry vacuum. Themultipurpose lid of the present invention contains an inlet port and anoutlet port. The inlet port is connected to a source of dirty air via anintake tube. The outlet port is attached to a device for cleaning dirtyair, such as a conventional wet/dry vacuum cleaner. The lid is attachedto a conventional pail or other container which is partially filled withwater. Dirty air is discharged from an inlet tube above the level of thewater, proceeds into the water where most of the dust is captured, andis pulled out of the container by a vacuum unit which is part of thefinal cleaning system. By use of the above device, the air coming fromthe source of dirty air is substantially cleaned, thus prolonging thelife of the final cleaning apparatus.

The sander of the present invention may be used as the source of dirtyair in the above embodiment. The sander contains a button on the top ofthe handle. When the button is depressed, the bottom surface componentof the sander is disengaged and swings open. Used sandpaper is removedfrom the sander. Ends of sandpaper strips are fitted into front and rearslots and the bottom surface component is fitted back into place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cut-away side elevational view of one device used in thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away side elevational view of another device used in thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away side elevational view of a pre-cleaning device usedin the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational perspective view of a sander of this inventionsuitable for use with the pre-cleaning device of the second embodimentof this invention. The sander is in the closed condition.

FIG. 5 is an elevational perspective view of the sander of FIG. 4 in theopen condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The first embodiment of this invention is directed to keeping paste-likematerials or liquids 2 in containers 4 such as pails or cans in a freshcondition during storage. Such material 2 is basically any material thatis stored in the container 4 and has a tendency to dry out due tocontact with air during storage. The container 4 is made of metal orplastic and is of conventional size of containers used in the art, suchas one gallon or five gallon cans or pails. To accomplish this goal theinvention uses a pre-sized lid 6, usually of plastic, which snaps ontothe top edge 8 of the container 4.

In a first alternative of the first embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, the lid6 for a container 4 has an inlet port 10 and an outlet port 12. Astrong, flexible bag 14, conveniently a plastic bag, is fit through afirst, inlet, port 10 so that the mouth 16 of the bag 14 will be towardthe outside 18 of the container 4 when the lid 6 and the container 4 arejoined. The bag 14 and the port 10 may be securely fastened by simplefriction fit using an internal ring 20 to hold the bag 14 in place. Afirst closure component 22 may be used. This component 22 fits into thering 20 to provide an air-tight seal for use during storage. Thiscomponent 22 preferably has a one-way valve (not shown) to allow airinto the bag 14 but will prevent air from exiting the bag 14. The outletport 12 contains an inwardly extending tube 24 having a plurality ofopenings 26. The second, outlet, port 12 fits snugly by friction fitonto a hose 28 connected to a vacuum device (not shown). A secondclosure component (not shown) may be used. This component fits into theoutlet port 12 to provide an air-tight seal during storage.

In a second alternative of the first embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, thelid 6 contains an inlet port 10 connected to a bag 14 by means of aninternal ring 20 as in the first alternative. The inlet port 10 containsa one-way inlet valve (not shown) as in the first alternative forallowing ambient air to pass from outside the container 4 into the bag14 but preventing escape of the air from the bag 14. The lid 6 isequipped with an outlet port 30 having a one-way valve (not shown) suchthat air may leave the container 4 but may not enter the container 4. Inthis alternative, the lid 6 is designed in such a way that it willoperate as a diaphragm pump 32 which allows air to leave the container 4when the pump 32 is depressed and prohibits air from reentering thecontainer 4 when the pump 32 is released. In this alternative the lid 6has a domical configuration within its structure that will allow theuser to compress and decompress the structure multiple times to removeair from the container 4. The inlet and outlet diaphragm valves operatein an opposing method. When the lid 6 is compressed the outlet valveallows air to freely pass out of the container 4 while the inlet valvedoes not. When the lid 6 moves into a decompression mode the inlet valveopens and the outlet valve closes. With the inlet valve open, ambientair passes into the flexible bag 14. With enough compressionssubstantially all of the air between the flexible bag 14 and thecontainer 4/composition 2 is forced out through the outlet valve andflexible bag 14 is inflated with drawn-in ambient air. This air pumpserves to evacuate air from the container 4 and, unlike the firstalternative, does not require a separate vacuum source. The lowerresulting pressure in the space between the material 2 and the lid 6means that a lower amount of air is available to react with the material2 than if the bag 14 has been inflated using positive pressure.

In carrying out the process of the first embodiment, the user obtains acontainer 4 of material 2 which is subject to hardening when exposed toair during storage. Such material 2 may be joint compound, glazier'sputty, paint, and the like. The container 4 may have an original,conventional lid or it may have the lid 6 of the present invention. Theoriginal lid, if present, is removed, the material 2 in the container 4is partially used, the lid 6 of the present invention is applied, air isevacuated from the space between the bag 14 and the material 2, and thecontainer 4 is stored. By using this process the material 2 is notsubject to reaction with air and is maintained in a paste-like or liquidcondition.

The second embodiment of this invention is described with reference toFIG. 3. This embodiment provides a device 34 for pre-filtering dirty airbefore it comes in contact with the conventional filter within a wet/dryvacuum device (not shown). The device 34 of this invention provideslonger useful operation time of the wet/dry vacuum device withoutclogging the filter medium. This device 34 has a container 36 such as apail and a lid 38. The device 34 is based on the function of forcingdirty air into water 40 that is placed in the bottom 42 of the device34. A conventional wet/dry vacuum attached to the device 34 by an outlettube 44 is used to create a vacuum which is used to bring the dirty airinto the container 36 by way of an intake tube 46. The origin of thedirty air may be an industrial tool 48 such as a sander or circular saw.The tool 48 is connected by means of an intake tube 46 having anappropriate inlet fitting 50 to the inlet port 52 of the pre-cleaningdevice 34. An inlet tube 54 is connected to the inlet fitting 50 andends slightly above the surface of the water 40 with a water levelindicator 56 on the surface of the filtration water 40. The outlet port58 contains an outlet fitting 60 having vertical openings 62 around it.These openings 62 help prevent the transfer of water 40 into the outletfitting 60 by causing the air to flow over a greater surface and bypulling air in from only a horizontally diffused direction. The outletport 58 is attached by the outlet fitting 60 to an outlet tube 44, whichcarries the pre-cleaned air to a wet/dry vacuum for further cleaning.

In operation, the inlet tube 54 having the water level indicator 56 isattached to the inlet fitting 50 on the inlet port 52 of the lid 38. Thelid 38 is placed on the container 36 and water 40 is introduced into thecontainer 36 until the user can see through the outlet port 58 that thewater 40 is at the proper level. The intake tube 46 is attached to theinlet fitting 50 and to the tool 48. The outlet tube 44 is attached tothe outlet port 58 and to the inlet port of a wet/dry vacuum. The vacuumpump of the wet/dry vacuum is turned on and dirty air from theindustrial tool 48 is drawn into the pre-cleaning device 36 of theinvention. Most of the dust in the dirty air is trapped in the water 40.Water 40 is prevented from exiting the pre-cleaning device by thevertical openings 62 in the outlet fitting 60. In this manner, much lessdust than originally present in the dirty air comes in contact with thefilter of the wet/dry vacuum and the wet/dry vacuum exhibits a longeruseful lifespan.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The third embodiment is a hand sander 64 ofsuch construction as to provide a quick and efficient way to replace thesandpaper 66. A disengagement button 68 at the top 70 of the handlecomponent 72 is operatively connected with a hook-like latch 74 whichengages and disengages the handle component 72 and the bottom surfacecomponent 76 of the sander 64. Upon depression of the button 68, thebottom surface component 76 of the sander 64 is disengaged and swingsopen about a pivot point 78 at the rear of the sander 64. Alternatively,the sander 64 may be configured with a removable bottom surfacecomponent 76 that may be attached to the handle component 72 with anyform of fastener. In either alternative, the bottom surface component 76is constructed with horizontal slots 80 at both ends 82, 84. These slots80 are for the purpose of accepting and holding the ends 86 of thesandpaper 66. As the bottom surface component 76 is fastened back intothe handle component 72, the frictional force of attachment holds thesandpaper 66 in place. The handle component 72 is hollow and contains aconnection for a vacuum hose 46 which may be connected to thepre-cleaning device 36 of the second embodiment.

In practice, when a new strip of sandpaper 66 is desired, the userdepresses the disengagement button 68 at the top 70 of the handlecomponent 72. The latch 74 is disengaged, allowing the handle component72 to separate from the bottom surface component 76. The used strip ofsandpaper 66 is removed, the new strip of sandpaper 66 is inserted intothe horizontal slots 80 at the front 82 and rear 84 ends, and the device64 is snapped shut causing the sandpaper 66 to be held by frictionbetween the handle component 72 and the bottom surface component 76.Closing the device 64 causes the latch 74 to engage, thereby locking thehandle component 72 and the bottom surface component 76 together. Thesander 64 contains a fitting 88 for attachment to a vacuum hose as shownin FIG. 3. Thus the sander 64 is designed to be used in conjunction withthe pre-cleaning device 34 described with reference to FIG. 3.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, itis to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration andexample, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit andscope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

1. A lid for a container for material which hardens upon exposure to airduring storage, which container has an inside and an outside, which lidhas an inlet port and an outlet port, a strong, flexible bag having amouth fit through the inlet port so that the mouth of the bag is towardthe outside of the container when the lid and the container are joined,and the outlet port contains an inwardly extending tube having aplurality of openings such that when air is expelled from the containera partial vacuum is created, which partial vacuum causes air to enterthe bag and causes the bag to abut the material.
 2. The combination of acontainer having material which has a tendency to harden upon storage inthe presence of air and the lid of claim
 1. 3. A lid for a containerhaving an inside and an outside, which lid has an inlet port connectedto a bag having a mouth fit through the inlet port so that the mouth ofthe bag is toward the outside of the container when the lid and thecontainer are joined, the inlet port containing a one-way inlet valveallowing ambient air to pass from outside the container into the bag, anoutlet port having a one-way valve such that air may leave the containerbut may not enter the container, the lid being designed in such a waythat it will operate as a diaphragm pump which allows air to leave thecontainer when the pump is depressed and prohibits air from reenteringthe container when the pump is released.
 4. The combination of acontainer having material which has a tendency to harden upon storage inthe presence of air and the lid of claim
 3. 5. A combination forpre-cleaning dirty air comprising: a container containing water, a lidon the container, an inlet port in the lid, an intake tube attached tothe inlet port for bringing dirty air to the container, an inlet tubehaving a lower end, which inlet tube is connected to the inlet port andends slightly above the surface of the water, said inlet tube having awater level indicator at the lower end thereof, an outlet portcontaining an outlet fitting having vertical openings around it, whichoutlet port is attached to an outlet tube for carrying pre-cleaned airfrom the container.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the intaketube is connected to a tool and wherein the outlet tube is connected toa wet/dry vacuum device.